UW, Evergreen rank high on list of ‘coolest schools’

Evergreen State College students L’Claw and Abby Goodman protest at Weyerhaeuser’s Federal Way headquarters in 2005. The college is known for producing strong activism movements. (seattlepi.com file photo)

The list was published by Sierra Magazine, and it specifically relates to how colleges and universities address environmental concerns. The schools were ranked based on 10 factors, including efficiency, academics, transportation, waste management and financial investments.

Makes more sense now, doesn’t it?

Evergreen, based in Olympia, earned 85.9 points (presumably out of 100) when ranked by Sierra.

“UW’s annual solutions-oriented Environmental Innovation Challenge, which teams students from disparate departments, represents interdisciplinary eco-thinking at its best,” according to Sierra writers.

UW Provost Phyllis Wise said the ranking was an honor.

“We are thrilled to be included again among the most environmentally responsible universities in the country,” she said in a prepared statement. “It is an honor to be included among the very best schools, all of which have excellent environmental records. The UW is committed to continue to innovate in ways that are environmentally conscious.”

Green Mountain College in Vermont was Sierra’s “coolest school,” and Dickinson College in Pennsylvania was runner up.